CONSERVATION COMMISSION. 11 



with a view of ascertaining whether the prices agreed to be paid 

 are reasonable and the title thereto marketable; and while it 

 appears that in some instances the State agreed to pay more than 

 the land was reasonably worth, we recommend that the balance in 

 the appropriation for the purchase of lands in the Adirondacks be 

 made available for the payment of lands contracted for in the 

 Catskill park ; also that the Legislature appropriate a sum sufficient 

 to complete the sales so contracted for by the Forest Purchasing 

 Board, estimated to be approximately $25,000. We further recom- 

 mend that they appropriate a like sum so that this Commission 

 may at all times have money available to take advantage of any 

 offers that might be made for the sale of land to the State, where 

 it appears that the price is just and reasonable. 



This Commission will submit a complete revision and codifica- 

 tion of all the laws relating to the powers and duties of the Land 

 Purchasing Board and Forest, Fish and Game Commission, and 

 we recommend : 



1. A permanent and more extensive fire patrol system in the 

 forest preserve counties, with additional patrolmen and observa- 

 tion stations, and State-wide fire supervision of woodlands and 

 railroad rights of way. 



2. More stringent regulations in regard to protection against 

 fires, and greater powers to the Commission in making such regu- 

 lations and enforcing penalties for violations thereof. 



3. More extended powers to the Commission of acquiring, land 

 for the protection and conservation of the forests and waters of 

 the State. 



4. Power of supervision over parks and reservations receiving 

 and disbursing State moneys, and not now under the supervision 

 of any other State officer. 



5. Power to establish rules whereby lumbering on lands within 

 the Adirondack and Catskill parks shall be carried on in a scien- 

 tific manner so as to perpetuate the forest cover, preserve the parks 

 and protect the water supply of the State. 



0. The promotion of reforestation by the adoption of measures 

 whereby the burden of taxation may be lessened upon those lands 

 within the forest preserve counties which shall be replanted with 

 trees or allowed to remain as wild forest lands. 



